NEW YORK—In my last Emerging Artists column, I wrote that New York’s preeminence as a creative capital would soon be jeopardy, as emerging artists—an essential part of the city’s cultural sector—are being priced out of the city by skyrocketing real estate prices (click here to read this article).

The reason for that, I argued, came down to the lack of affordable apartments and artist studios, as well as a pattern of general underemployment. Both of those factors are contributing to the developing trend of artists trading New York for cities with a lower cost of living—and are sure to affect the kind of art being made here for those who decide to stay.

Part of the problem, I noted, was that although creative workers contribute significantly to the city's economy, the city was doing little to directly address the problem: almost all of the money the city spends on cultural programs is earmarked for institutions, rather than direct support for artists.

Almost on cue, Mayor Bloomberg announced on April 5 a new, but counter-productive spending initiative to help shore up the city’s status as the world’s cultural center. In a press conference at the Museum of Modern Art, Bloomberg announced the city is establishing a new office to support arts groups, with the specific mission to pitch New York’s status as a premier cultural center and to help nonprofit art organizations cope with the exorbitant costs of surviving in the city. The new office is part of the city's Economic Development Corporation and will help arts groups negotiate the real-estate market and attract financing.

"We won't and can't be complacent," Bloomberg said at the announcement. "In the creative sector, as in so many other areas, at one time New York City didn't have to compete with other cities. Now we do. Other cities are quickly learning the benefits of being a creative hub."

Agreed. But how does this new plan help those who need it most? Subsidized housing efforts, such as the Manhattan Plaza Housing Project that opened in the 1970s and set aside apartments for low-income residents working in the performing arts, would be a better option than simply pumping money into often bureaucratic organizations.

If the city’s focus is on helping arts groups deal with the real-estate market to survive, it should at least require that those organizations receiving aid provide residencies, studios, grants or open-call opportunities for artists. Even better, why not start a city-wide open-studio program?

Residency programs all over the country provide an estimated $36 million in direct support for over 12,000 artists each year, according to the Alliance of Artist Communities, a service organization that provides research and information on such programs and is also an advocate on the behalf of these artist communities to policymakers and funders.

Rather than continue to point out where New York City is going wrong with its arts policy, I thought it best to spotlight some of those residencies that do provide direct support to artists. Here is my list of 10 of the best residencies, colonies and retreats around the world for emerging artists working in all media.

Woodstock A-I-R

Woodstock, NY

A workspace residency program at the Center for Photography at Woodstock, Woodstock A-I-R is designed to support U.S.-based emerging artists of color working in the photographic arts. The program offers five residencies for artists of color each year and welcomes submissions from artists working with photography, digital imagery, multimedia and/or installations that incorporate photography. It reviews work every 3-4 months.

International School of Painting, Drawing & Sculpture

Umbria, Italy

Overlooking the lush Tiber River valley, the school's artist program is open to all visual artists. The application deadline is ongoing with two, four-week residency programs, one in May and one in September. 

McColl Center for Visual Art

Charlotte, N.C.